AN historic former chapel and factory in York has been saved, after councillors rejected plans to demolish it to make way for flats.

Developers want to build 12 one-bedroom apartments on the site of the old Mission Hall in South Bank Avenue, which has more recently served as the Knavesmire Glass factory.

But City of York Council received more than 160 objections to the scheme, and at a planning committee yesterday councillors threw it out.

Dr Miles Layram, of York Conservation Trust, delivered a withering attack on the plan to demolish the Victorian building, which he said was a "unique and irreplaceable treasure" for local people.

"Nothing justifies bringing in the bulldozers," he said. "The existing structure need not be demolished."

He said demolishing the building would be immoral and a "grotesque waste of resources", and added: "The developer is hell-bent on returning as big a profit as possible. That is their job. The job of everyone else should be to protect the South Bank Mission Chapel."

As reported in The Press yesterday, the Conservation Trust's chief executive Philip Thake has called for councillors to draw up a Local List of important buildings, to help protect the city's heritage.

Local councillor Julie Gunnell also spoke against the Knavesmire Glass plan, saying the building was of local interest and importance.

In debate, Coun Ian Gillies said he saw "no real reason to demolish it", while Coun Sue Galloway cited the example of Front Street in Acomb, where another historic chapel had successfully been restored and converted, rather than demolished.

She said: "To just put up 12 one-bedroom flats here is not the right thing to do."

Coun Ann Reid said the criteria for the Local List should be received shortly, but she said that if local people were particularly concerned about the old Mission Hall, they should make inquiries about getting it officially listed.

Also at yesterday's meeting, the council committee approved plans for seven new industrial units at Hazel Court, off James Street in York.

The scheme was submitted by Yorvale Properties, and is for light industry, storage and distribution uses. No occupants have yet been identified, nor precise staff numbers, but the scheme includes 16 parking spaces and a similar number of bike spaces.